Cambodia Tourist Guides — History

Much of Cambodia's history is left at the mercy of the archaeological evidences. These evidences suggest that during the first and second millennia BC, people having Neolithic culture, inhabited Cambodia. Gradually more advance groups, cultivating rice and keeping domesticated animals, started crowding in this area. Cambodians believed Funan to be the first Khmer kingdom and the earliest of the Indian states. Funan's history dates to an early period, but by the fifth century AD, Funan reached its zenith. From early 6th century, Funan was plagued by civil wars and constant strife and finally it gave itself up to its northern neighbours, king of Chenla.

These people were also Khmer and their conquests lasted for nearly three centuries. More interested in warfare, they succeeded in subjugating central Laos and brought what are now western Cambodia and southern Thailand absolutely under their control. But unfortunately, even Chenla failed. This failure now gave rise to Angkorian period, which lasted from early 9th century to 15th century AD.

Khmer civilization underwent its golden years during the Angkorian Rule. After a series of failures, it was the Angkorian Empire that provided the Cambodians cultural, religious and political powers. The Hindu rulers like Yasovarman, Suryavarman, Jayavarman contributed their best towards the development of Art, Culture and Political stability. Buddhism flourished in Cambodia with the patronage from Jayavarman VII and the magnificent temple town of Angkor Vat and the mighty water reservoir of Eastern Baray bear the testimony of the power and ability of the Angkorian rulers. With the death of these rulers, the Thai army captured Angkor in 1431.

Although the Khmers recaptured it, they were bothered by the rivalries and warfare, continuous between themselves and Thai. An age-old struggle ensued between Thailand and Vietnam for control of Cambodia in 1840A.D. After two years of fierce battle, an accord was reached and a new monarch Ang Duong (1848-59AD), ascended the throne and brought a decade of peace to Cambodia.

King Ang Duong himself invited the French to Cambodia in 1856 and the French finally succeeded in persuading King Norodom (successor of King Ang Duong) to conclude a treaty in 1863 declaring French Protection to the King in exchange to exploit Cambodia's natural resources. The French during the Colonial Period (1887-1953) succeeded in curbing the powers of the Royalty.

A young lad named Sihanouk was placed in the throne of Cambodia as the head of the State to negotiate for full independence with the French but he failed to rule and a tumultuous period followed from 1946 to 1953. The advent of Khmer Issarak, the leftist guerillas now took control of fifty percent of Cambodia. They continued disturbing atrociously, capturing capital city, mass killing men, women and children, teachers and civil servants.

In early 1974 the Khmer Rouge, a faction of Leftist regime captured the old city of Odongk, totally destroyed it, dispersed its 20,000 inhabitants into the countryside, and brutally executed the teachers and civil servants. In April 17, 1975 the after Khmer Rouge units entered Phnom Penh, the capital. An estimated figure of three million deaths is reported during the Khmer Rouge regime headed by Pol Pot. Finally, Vietnam relieved Cambodians by making Khmer Rouge flee from Phnom Penh in January 7th, 1979.

In 1994, UN started elections and led to establishment of Norodom Sihanonk as king. In 2000, floods crippled Cambodians who now became busy to make the economy survive and are also thinking of their next successor.

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In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap.

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